Let's talk backdrop colors...

Eighteen colors. Zero bad choices. But also — I've been doing this long enough to have some pretty strong feelings, and I'd rather give you a real guide than just a color chart.

A quick note: backdrop colors can shift in hue and tone between images based on lighting distance, your dog's coat color, and the final edit. What you see in the samples is representative, but every session has its own light — and that's a feature, not a bug.

When clients come in for a studio session, backdrop selection is one of the first things we talk about. And the range is genuinely wide: we're going from moody midnight black to primary red to soft blush pink, and all of it looks incredible on dogs. The question is less what looks good and more what's right for you and your dog.

The Classics

Black · White · Light Grey · Dark Grey · Pecan · Cocoa

If you're not sure where to start, start here. These are the backdrops that never date themselves, never compete with your dog, and translate beautifully into black and white — which is where some of my absolute favorite studio work lives.

Black is dramatic and moody, but also so fun and colorful with bubbles. It swallows the background entirely and makes your dog the only thing in the frame. White is clean, editorial, and particularly stunning on darker-coated dogs. The greys split the difference and give you enormous flexibility in post. And Pecan — a warm, mid-tone brown — is one of my quiet favorites. There's something about a warm neutral with the right dog that just works.

On the wall: A black or dark grey backdrop in a large metal print looks really striking. White and light grey tend to feel softer — great for albums or a canvas grouping.

BLACK

WHITE

(can look light grey, can look pure white)

LIGHT GREY

DARK GREY

PECAN

COCOA

New color at the studio!

The Jewels

Blue · Ultramarine · Teal · Evergreen · Purple

These are my personal favorites, other than the neutrals. Rich, saturated, and they photograph really well across coat colors. If you're not sure what to pick and want my actual opinion — start here. I recommend including at least one from this category if you like one!

Teal and Ultramarine work especially well on warm-toned or dark coats. Purple is a nice fit for lighter dogs. Evergreen is a solid all-rounder. These are truly my favorite 4 colors!

Good for: Dark coats, warm-toned coats (red, brown, golden). Also great if your home has a lot of warm wood tones, navy, or jewel-toned accents — the backdrop can work with your space rather than against it.

On the wall: These colors are bold enough to be a statement piece on their own. A large metal print in Ultramarine or Teal on a white or light grey wall is going to get noticed.

BLUE

ULTRAMARINE

TEAL

EVERGREEN

PURPLE

The Brights

Primary Red · Crimson · Deep Yellow · Tech Green · Mint · Light Blue · Pink

High energy, playful, and high contrast. These work best when there's a clear color difference between your dog's coat and the backdrop — you want them to pop off each other, not blend.

Red and Crimson are especially striking on black or very dark dogs. Deep Yellow is great on dark coats too. Mint and Light Blue are a little more easygoing and work well on medium to dark coats.

Good for: Dark or black coats for maximum contrast. If your home has a lot of color — bold accent walls, colorful furniture — a bright backdrop can actually fit right in.

On the wall: These work really well in albums where you can see the variety across images, or as a single bold piece if you've got the right wall for it. Crystal blocks are a fun option for brights — the color really comes through.

PRIMARY RED

CRIMSON (DARKER RED)

DEEP YELLOW

TECH GREEN

MINT

LIGHT BLUE

DARK PINK

The Softs

Light Pink · Orchid

These are the most specific in terms of what they work best with. Light Pink is really beautiful on white, cream, or very light-coated dogs. Dark Pink has a little more depth and works on a wider range of coats.

Good for: Light-colored dogs. If your home has blush, mauve, or warm neutral tones, these fit in naturally.

On the wall: These tend to look best in smaller formats — a folio box, an album, or a crystal block on a shelf rather than a large statement print.

LIGHT PINK

ORCHID (LIGHT PURPLE)

The Gradients

One of my new classic looks!

Endless color combinations available

Two colors, one backdrop — they blend together and shift depending on where your dog is sitting and how the light hits, so every frame looks a little different. Makes for a really fun gallery.

Works on every coat color. Looks especially great as a large metal print or across an album where you can see the full range.

These aren't on the standard menu yet — if you're interested, just reach out and ask about doing gradient photos and we'll build the right combo together.

Thinking About Your Home

If you already know where the photos are going, that's actually a great place to start with backdrop selection:

• Neutral home (white, grey, beige walls): Almost anything works, but the Classics and Jewels will look the most intentional.

• Warm home (wood tones, terracotta, rust, olive): Pecan, Evergreen, Teal, and the warmer brights (Red, Deep Yellow) will feel at home.

• Modern/bold home (dark walls, black accents, high contrast): Lean into the Jewels or go full black backdrop. Big metal print. Done.

• Colorful/eclectic home: Pick something you love — the Brights or Softs can work really well if the space already has personality.

Still Not Sure?

We'll talk through it before your session. Once I know your dog's coloring and where you're thinking of putting the photos, it's a bit easier to narrow it down! But no matter what you pick, your dog is going to look incredible.